There is a small country in the heart of Europe, which doesn’t have high mountains, only 600-1000 metres tall hills. There is a small country, which doesn’t have any seaside, its biggest lake, the Balaton is only 10 metres deep. But this small country has a more than 21.000 kilometres long marked net of hiking trails. This small country has the oldest long distance path in Europe, which was born in 1938, more than 80 years ago. In this small country the wild camping is allowed, only with a few limitig conditions (MORE about this). This small country is Hungary, and I would like to invite you, visit this country and walk a bigger or shorter distance along its National Blue Trail!

THE ROUTE OF THE NATIONAL BLUE TRAIL
If you click on the map, it will open in bigger size on a new page.

Kőszeg - The Blue Trail crosses the historical downtown of the city

Sümeg - The 750 years old fortress

Hollókő - The World Heritage Site village in late Autumn

Castle of Füzér - The medieval fortress was fully renovated a few years ago

The long route of the National Blue Trail starts on the 884 metres tall peak of Írott-kő Mountain at the Austrian-Hungarian border. It descends to the feet of the mountain, visits the 700 years old Kőszeg town, crosses the Little Hungarian Plain and after the fort of Sümeg the long and winding way continues among the hills and mountains of the Transdanubian Mid-Range Mountains. The marked trail touches the Balaton Lake and after 500 km run reaches Budapest at the half of its route. Here the hikers can throw a glance at the capital from the hills, later the path crosses the Danube at the Danube Bend between the Pilis and Börzsöny Mountains.

The meandering route of the National Blue Trail goes on along the Northern Mid-Range Mountains, climbs the 800-900 m tall peaks of Börzsöny, Mátra, Bükk and Zemplén Mountains, the mild hills of Cserhát and Cserehát Hilly Countries. Along its long route the Trail visits two World Heritage Sites: the old village of Hollókő and the Dripstone Cave of Aggtelek. Finally it reaches the small Hollóháza village at the Hungarian-Slovakian border, where we arrive to its end at a small monument.

This website is an advertisement, the advertisement of the beautiful Hungarian countryside and the National Blue Trail. The author of this website completed three times this long route, the travelogues were written and the photos were taken on those big hikes. He has been living in Hungary since his birth, but he recognised this country really only on these hikes. He felt in love with the mildly waving hills and mountains, with the friendly people of the small villages, with the ruins of big fortresses and already forgotten small castles, extinct volcanoes and the whole atmosphere of the Hungarian countryside! He thought it is worth bringing his experiences within reach for somebody else. He hopes, the travelogues, the route-altitude profiles, the general information chapter and the other advices will help you, if you decide to visit Hungary, and hike along the National Blue Trail!

If somebody tells about himself/herself in a company in Hungary, that he/she is a hiker, almost sure that the first question will be “And have you completed the Blue Trail?” Nearly every Hungarian has heard about this thing. The completion of the Blue Trail is an important part in the life of a Hungarian hiker. There are exactly 150 checkpoints along the route of the Trail. If somebody can collect the stamps of all checkpoints in his personal completion booklet, only in that case is the Blue Trail completed by that person.

But not the number of the collected stamps are important, if you walk along the path of the Trail, but more important thing is to visit the most beautiful natural and built sight of Hungary during the long hike and become familiar with the history of this small Middle European country. Please, enter the pages of this website, study the route-altitude-profiles, enjoy the travelogues and photos, and if you decide to hike on the National Blue Trail, don’t hesitate! Pick up your backpack and come to Hungary!

PS:

If you have any personal comment, question, good or bad opinion about this websites, please, write to the author! He will answer as soon as possible! If you think, make your opinion public, in this case you can do this thing in the Visitors' Book, as well!

The information on this website is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.